Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by parasitic flatworms of the genus Schistosoma, affecting over 250 million people worldwide each year. These parasites use freshwater snails, such as Biomphalaria glabrata, as intermediate hosts to complete their life cycle. There are potential gene candidates of interest that may play a role in the chemosensory attraction of the worms, allowing them to seek out the snail. Current methods for genome editing in B. glabrata are lacking. This research investigates the methodical development of an ex ovo culturing method for B. glabrata embryos and juveniles. Establishing this system is a key step toward future genome editing studies targeting candidate genes in the snail, enabling assessment of how disruption of these proteins may affect worm attraction. If transgenic snails with targeted gene knockdowns that prevent parasite-host recognition were introduced, a gene drive could spread these traits through wild populations, potentially reducing transmission and lowering the burden of schistosomiasis.
